12/8/2016 - Rail services under discussion at HITRANS events
HITRANS, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands, is staging a twin-tracked rail summit at the Mercure Hotel, Inverness, on Friday 16 December.
The main event is the annual Rail Stakeholder Conference, which will run from 1 – 3.40 pm.. Topics to be covered include:-
- Transport Scotland’s Rail Infrastructure Strategy Consultation
- Progress on the Aberdeen-Inverness and Highland Main Line Upgrade projects
- Developments at Inverness Rail Station
- Introduction of the new High Speed Train fleet
- Community Rail
Main speaker is Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, who will be speaking on Delivering a Better Rail Service. Other topics to be covered include Transport Scotland’s Rail Infrastructure Strategy Consultation, progress on the Aberdeen-Inverness and Highland Main Line Upgrade projects, developments at Inverness Station, the introduction of the new High Speed Train fleet and Community Rail.
It will be preceded by the second Points North Seminar, which focuses on the poor performance of the railway from Inverness to Wick/Thurso and Kyle and investigates measures to restore reliability and confidence in the service. The seminar will run from 10 am – 12.15 pm. Guest speaker will be Phil Verster, Managing Director, of ScotRail Alliance, who will be joined by other key personnel involved in the industry.
Frank Roach, Partnership Manager of HITRANS, who is organising the events, said: “We are delighted to welcome Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing to our annual rail event which focuses on the changes coming in the next 2-3 years: new trains, upgraded routes and station enhancements. The morning seminar concentrates on the problems of the Far North Line. We have a range of presentations from those directly involved in improving reliability and performance in track, signalling and rolling stock.”
Those interested in attending are invited to contact frank.roach@hitrans.org.uk
Points North / Rail Stakeholder Programme
Points North
1000 Welcome Cllr James Stockan HITRANS Chair
1005 Introduction Frank Roach HITRANS Iain Macdonald
1015 Infrastructure Maintenance Programme Alex Sharkey Area Director East Network Rail
1035 158 Maintenance Derek Glasgow ScotRail Fleet Manager Inverness
1055 Performance Improvement Plans /Scotland Route Study Phil Verster MD ScotRail Alliance
1125 Level Crossings Simon Constable Head of Route Safety Health and Environment, Network Rail
1150 RETB Next Generation Ian Whiteley Project Manager Network Rail
1215 Lunch
The Rail Stakeholder Conference
1300 Welcome Cllr James Stockan HITRANS Chair
1305 Introduction Frank Roach HITRANS Iain Macdonald
1310 Rail Infrastructure Strategy Consultation Frazer Henderson Head of Rail Policy Transport Scotland
1330 Delivering a Better Rail Service Fergus Ewing MSP Cabinet Secretary Rural Economy and Connectivity
1400 A2I and HML update Colin Macdonald Programme Manager Graeme Stewart Scheme Sponsor Network Rail
1420 Overview of HST introduction/Dec 18 Timetable Scott Prentice Head of Business Development ScotRail
1440 New trains for old Peter Strachan MD Caledonian Sleepers
1500 Inverness Station Upgrade Rob Shorthouse Communications Director ScotRail Alliance
1515 Community Rail Partnerships Sally Spaven Highland Main Line CRP Hege Hernaes West Highland CRP
1525 Skyefall Colin Howell Highland Council, Frank Roach HITRANS